Lubricating system for pulverizers.



M. BENJAMIN.

LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR PULVERIZERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1|, 1914.

1,142,746. Patented June 8, 1915.

M. BENJAMIN.

LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR PULVERIZERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. H, 1914.

Patented June 8, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M. BENJAMIN.

LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR PULVEMZERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. \I, 1914.

Patented June 8, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS BENJAMIN, 0F ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN PULVERIZER '00., "OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR PULVEBIZEKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1915.

Application filed February 11, 1914. Serial No. 818,144.

crushing members travel along an annular die, the members being capable of axial r0- tation, as well as bodily movement or oscillation with relation to the die. To effectively exclude the dust and other foreign substances from and properly lubricate the bearing surfaces of parts of such machines presents many obstacles and one of the objects of this invention is to provide improved means to accomplish this end.

In order to suspend the crushing member for rotation with respect to the oscillating head, it is necessary to provide a bearing on the vertical oscillating shaft and in the preferred embodiment of my invention I employ a bearing in most respects similar to that disclosed in Patent No. 937,203, issued to me October 19, 1909. It is to be understood, however, that my invention may be applied to other types of pendant crushing members.

Another object is to provide a supporting head for the pendant shaft and crushing member having large bearing Surfaces well protected from the finely pulverized material, whereby excessive heating and wear may be prevented.

Other objects and the novel features of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with. the drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a view of a mill embodying my invention, parts thereof being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the pendant member showing the trunnions in side elevation; Fig.3 is a. plan view of the cross-head or spider showing covers secured to the bearings of one of the jaws; and Fig. 4 is an elevation of the spider shownin Fig. 3.

Referring now to Fig. 1, 10 represents the base frame which supports the pan 11 to contain the ore or other material to be pulverized. The pan 11 is provided with an annular flange 12 upon which an annular steel crushing die 13 is mounted. Suitable means as a ring 1a is inserted behind the die 13 to secure the same in place. 12 designates the frame structuregenerally, which is rig- 1dly supported onthe base frame 10 and carries suitable bearing members 15 and 1G in which a central rotating shaft or hub 17 is mounted. The shaft 17 is provided with suitable power receiving means, such as the pulley 18 and carries the cross head or spider 19 near its lower end. The cross head 19 is rigidly secured to the shaft 17 to rotate means of keys 22, a shaft 23 carried by and v mounted for rotation on the lower end of shaft 21, and a crushing roll 24 secured to the shaft 23 to rotate therewith. The roll shaft 23 is axially in line with the pendant shaft 21 and is provided with a bearing box 23 at its upper end. The bearing box 23 is closed at its bottom and receives and incloses the lower part of shaft 21. As will be hereinafter described, the bearing box 23 is provided with bearings and means cooperating with shaft 21 to support the .roll shaft 23 and crushing roll thereon for rotation with respect to shaft 21.

The head is provided with a central enlarged portion 25, in which the shaft 21 is rigidly mounted. Extending from the enlarged portion 25 and integral therewith are shaft portions 26 upon the outer ends of which are the disk-like trunnions 27. of greater diameter than the shafts 26. The trunnions 27 are preferably cast integral with the head and shaft portions 26 and are chambered out, as at 28, to provide clearance either be a feature of the bearing portion or the shaft, the two latter together constituting a two-part shaft.

he jaws 20 of the cross head are provided with pockets 29 on opposite sides to receive the trunnions 27 and to accommodate the shaft sections, openings '30, communicating with these pockets are provided. The innor surfaces of the pockets 29 provide a large and ample bearing surface for the trunnions 27. The openings between the shaft sections 26 and passageways 30 may be stuffed with packing to exclude foreign matter from the bearing surfaces. On the side of each pocket opposite the openings 30 and cast integral with the cross head 19, are circular bearing faces 31 preferably having an area about that of the cross sectional area of the trunnion disks 2?. The end surfaces 31 of the pockets have vertical dovetailed slots 32 to receive lubricating material or suitable anti-friction bearing material. As will be seen from Fig. 4, the surfaces 31 extend above the plane of the cross head and constitute end thrust bearings for the trunnions 27. Because of excessive end thrust strains I have provided a reinforcing member 33 which connects the end bearing surfaces 31 at their rear edges. To completeiy inclose and further exclude dust from the trunnions 27, bearing surfaces 31 and pockets 29, I provide covers 31. The said covers are bolted to the spider 19, a suitable packing being secured therebetween to exclude dust. Dust-proof grease cups 35 are moimted on the covers whereby lubricat ing material may be supplied to the interior of the pockets. By this arrangement of trunnion disks and bearings, it will be seen that I have provided an ample bearing surface entirely inclosed and inaccessible to foreign matter.

The enlarged portion 25 of the head of the pendant member is provided with a depending annular lip 36, surrounding the shaft 21, the interior diameter of which is considerably greater than the diameter of the shaft 21, thereby providin an annular chamber 36 around the shaft irectly below the head 25. To the depending lip 36 I secure a dust excluding ring 37. At its lower end the device 37 has an outwardly extendin flange, 38, and at the outer edge of said ange 38 there is a depending flange or skirt 39.

The shaft 21 which ends into and termi nates slightly short of the bottom of the bearing box 23' is provided with an integral enlargement or collar 40 intermediate of its ends which forms a supporting shoulder to support the bearing box 23', shaft 23, and crushing roller 21 for rotation about the shaft 21. To provide against excessive friction between the parts I employ a steel ring 41 which rests on the enlargement 40 and is loosely mounted on the shaft 21. I The collar 4-0 to rotate with the shaft 21. Furthermore, the ring 41 may be provided with an annular groove or ball race within which may run ball or roller bearings, and a similar ring complementary to ring 11 may be provided with an annular groove to accommodate the ball bearings. The ring 41 or its equivalent provides an anti-friction bearing between the oscillatable supporting head and the rotatable and oscillatable crusher member.

The shaft member 23 which carries the crushing member is secured to the shaft 21 by means of a sleeve 46 which has exterior screw threads thereon to engage screw threads on the interior and near the upper edge of an enlargement 23" of the bearing box 23. The enlargement 23" is of sufficient diameter to receive the collar 40, and

a. shoulder 24 which joins the parts 23' and 23" of the bearing box forms a. bearing for one face of said collar 10. The sleeve 46 has an interior flange 47 at its lower end and the latter has :1 depending flange 59 at its inner edge, which depending flange extends to the top surface of the collar 10 and within the ring or bearin '11. The lower edge of the sleeve 46 and its interior flange provide a bearing surface for the rotatable portion of the pendent member, the latter resting on the upper surface of the ring -11. The upper end 48 of the sleeve 46 extends beyond the end of the box 23", into the annular space 36' and inner wall thereof closely surrounds the shaft 21. The part 18 of the sleeve tapers at its end and a hard fiber ring 49 is fitted tightly thereon and revolves in the space 50 with ample clearance on all sides.

Shoulders 51 and 51' on the exterior of the sleeve cooperating with corresponding interior shoulders on the ring 37 form a tortuous passageway 37 between thetwo annular members and, together with the skirt portion 39 which overhangs the edge of the shoulder 51 and the fiber ring 19, assist in excluding foreign matter from the bearing box 23. The passageway between the opposing surfaces on parts 37 and 51 is the only opening through which the dust may enter the bearing box 23'.

The sleeve 46 is adjusted so that the surface 51 will be only slightly out of contact with the opposing surface on the flange 37, and as the lower part of the pendent member revolves, the dust and other foreign matter will be unable to enter the space between the relatively moving faces, as it will be thrown outwardly or expelled by centrifugal force and hence the arrangement provides practically a perfect seal against the dust entering and injuring the supporting and bearing surfaces.

The bearing surfaces to be protected .comprise the sleeves 53 and 54 surrounding the lower end of shaft 21, innersurface of shoulder 24', and the end thrust bearing 41; which latter is mounted adjacent the enlarged portion of: the shaft above the sleeve 53$ The bearing sleeve 53 is substantially the same width as the collar 40, and rests on the shoulder 24'. The bearing sleeve 54 extends from the shoulder 2i to the bottom of the hollow part 23 of the rotatable member 23.

It has heretofore been found exceedingly difficult in devices of this general type to properly lubricate the bearings of the depending rotarycrushing rolls. It has been found that any lubricant supplied to the bearings quickly disappears and the bearings get hot and wear out and the effort was made to maintain the lubrication by frequent additions of more lubricant. This was very wasteful of the lubricant and furthermore did not secure satisfactory and uniform lubrication since the lubricant would often disappear more quickly than suspected by the operator and consequently the parts would get hot and cause not only a waste of power in running the machine but rapid wear.

In a rotary vertical bearing of the kind used in devices of this character the lubri cant may be fed down by gravity between the relatively rotating surfaces of the hearing but I have discovered that when the lubricant is fed to the bottom of the bearing it will work or creep up between the moving parts as long as a supply is maintained at the bottom and will thus maintain the lubrication and there will be a continuous film of lubricant passing up through the bearing to the outside and it will travel the entire length of the rotating part and will therefore be lost. This action of the lubricant creeping up the inner face of the rotating cylindrical bearing is due to the centrifugal force exerted on the lubricant in the pendant members as the latter rotate about the center of the cross-head. I have not only discovered this cause for the rapid loss of the lubricant but have devised means for reventing it and for compelling the lubricant to automatically return to the lower end of the bearing after it has pasedi up through it. In other words, according to my system the same lubricant passes up through the bearing over and over again in a continuous circulation and that circulation is brought about automatically by the rotation of the parts. By this system there is no waste of lubricant and a small supply for any one of the depending rotary crushing rolls will last for many days of continuous use securing perfect lubrication without any careor attention on the part This lubricating system to pulverizers of the type heretofore described but it willbe understood that it may also be used for other purposes and it is not my intention to limit this part of my invention to that particular use.

A cavity 57 extends from the lower end of the shaft 21 part way up into the same, but terminates below the collar 10. A central channel 55 extends longitudinally of the shaft 21 from its upper end and opens on opposite sides which lead from the cavity 5 to the bearing surface 54 so that the oil may be freely supplied to the said bearing surface. A cavity 571 may be provided in the portion 23 of the two-part shaft carrying the crushing roll. The cavity 571 is located below the bottom 581 of the bearing into which the shaft 55 extends, and serves as a reservoir for lubricant. The cavities 57 and 571 may be filled with lubricating material through the passageway 55 and will contain enough to last for many days. When the device is in operation the rotation of the bearing box 23' and the rotation of the pendant members about the shaft 17 causes the lubricant within the cavities 57 and 571 to move outward by centrifugal force and to hug the inner face of the cylindrical bearing at the bottom and to creep in a thin sheet or film up the bearing 54 over the shoulder 24 and up the bearing surface 54 and the bearing surfaces between the ring 41 and the collar 40 and sleeve 46, thus thoroughly lubricating the working parts. The film of lubricant would if not prevented travel on up the inner face of faces to the top and would be lost and to revent such loss I have provided means or collecting and returning the lubricant to the cavities 57 and 571. Passageways 61 lead from a point above the surfaces to be lubricated back down through the interior of the shaft 21 to the cavity 57 so that the lubricant may flow by gravityback to the point where it may be used again. The

Near the lower 1 end of the shaft 21 I also provide holes 58 'the rotating part above the bearing surgassageways 61 are sufiiciently inclined ownwardly to prevent the centrifugal force from overcoming the force of gravity atthat point so that thelubricant will read ily drain downwardly, preferably lead from a point below the inwardly projecting flange 47, since at this point the film of lubricant is compelled to 'move inward in its travel toward the top of the rotating part and consequently it can be more efiiciently collected and returned by gravity at this point.

To assist in returning the lubricant and to guard against its further travel toward the top, I preferably provide an annular pocket 60 in the upper surface of the collar 40 within the sleeve -11 to collect the lubricant and the assa cs 61 lead from such pocket. The epen ing flange 59 also assists in making the lubricant collect in or deflects it into the pocket 60 since to escape it must pass under the edge of that flange. This lubricating system is also of advantage in keeping dust and grit out of the bearing. As above explained, dust is practically excluded from between the member 46 and shaft 21 but if any dust should enter it will fall on the lubricant in pocket 60 and will be carried down through passages 61 instead of between the bearing surfaces and is finally deposited in the cavity 571.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing description. The central shaft or hub 17 rotates with the spider or cross head 19 and the pendent crushing members are thrown out against the annular die 13 by centrifugal force, and the rollers 24 on t e end of the pendent members rotate and pulverize the ore or other material fed into the pan 11. The arrangement of the parts provides easy access thereto and assembling of the same. \Vhen the keys 22 are removed and the shaft 21 dropped out of the head, the shaft 23 and bearing box 23 may be disconnected from the shaft21 by detaching the sleeve 46. This permits easy assembling and ready access to the interior of the bearing box 23 for inspection and repairs.

It will be seen that I have provided a novel and simple means for excluding the dust from the bearing box for the rotatable element and also from the bearing surfaces for the oscillating head. The lubricating feature moreover is an important improvement, since it is essential that the device operate for a long period without much attention. The arrangement of the outlets and inlets of the cavity which serves as the lubricant reservoir provides a means whereby the lubricant may circulate through the swivel bearing connections between the two coaxial shafts and through the cavity in a closed circuit, and, consequently, a. frequent renewal of the lubricant is not necessary, as the loss of the same by working out of the bearing is very much less than formerly in such types of swivel bearing connections.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that certain of the improvements herein shown may be a plied to other machines, and that various 0 anges within the scope of the first comprising claims may be made. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to the exact details as shown and described.

l/Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of two coaxial members, one of said members being rotatable about another axis eccentric to its own axis, a swivel bearing connection between said members, one of said members having a cavity therein constituting a lubricant reservoir, said cavity havlng means connecting the same with the bearing surfaces so as to permit the circulation of the lubricant to and from said bearing connection in a closed circuit throu h the cavity.

2. n a machine of the class described, the combination of two coaxial members rotatable about another axis eccentric with their own axis, the first of said members telescopically fitting within the second, said first member havin a cavity within the end thereof fitting in said second member, bearing surfaces between said members, said cavity constituting a lubricant reservoir, means connecting said cavity and bearings to conduct lubricant to and from said hearing surfaces in a closed circuit through the cavity.

' 3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotatable cross-head, a rotatable member, means for supporting the rotatable member from the cross-head comprising a two-part shaft having a swivel bearing connection therebetween, one of the parts of the shaft having a cavity therein serving as a lubricant reservoir, and means roviding an inlet and an outlet for said iiibricant in said cavity to permit the circulation of said lubricant in a closed circuit through said swivel bearing connection.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pendent member having a cavity near one end and a collar intermediate its ends, said pendent member being rotatable about another axis eccentric to its own axis, a second member telescopically fitting the pendent member, means for rotatively supporting the second member on the a sleeve having an interior diameter less t lar, anti-friction bearing means between the sleeve and collar, bearing sleeves between the two members, said cavity constituting a lubricant reservoir, said cavity having an outlet and an inlet adapted to establish communication between the cavity, bearing sleeves and anti-friction bearin and arranged to provide a circulation o the lubricant between the bearing surfaces.

5. The combination with a shaft of a bearing in which said shaft fits, the said shaft and bearing havin relative rota movement and being bodily rotatable a ut anan the diameter of'said col- 1 fl/ other axis eccentric to their own axes, means .for feeding a lubricant through the interior 6. The combination with a shaft extending downwardly and rotatable about another axis eccentric to its own axis, of a rotary member having a bearing fitting on the lower end of said shaft, means for holding a supply of lubricant in the lower end of said shaft in communication with said bearing whereby said lubricant will by centrifugal action work up along said bearing and means for collecting the lubricant after it has passed up through the bearing and for returning it by gravityto the lower end of the shaft whereby there will be a continuous circulation.

7 The combination with a shaft extending downwardly and rotatable about another axis eccentric to its own axis, said shaft being provided with a cavity at its lower end ada ted to contain a lubricant and a longitudmal assage for supplying a lubricant leading own into said cavity, of a rotary member having a bearing with a closed bottom fitting on the lower end of said shaft whereby therotation of said member will force the lubricant by centrifugal action to creep up alon said bearing and means at the top of sai bearing for leading said lubricant back by gravity into sa1d cavity whereby there will be an automatic continuous circulation of the lubricant without waste.

8. The combination with a downwardly extending shaft havin an open cavity in its lower end to hold a fubricant, of a rotary member having a bearing with a closed bottom fitting on the lower end of said shaft whereby the rotation of said member will force the lubricant b centrifugal action to creep up along sai bearing, and means within said member at. the top of said hearing to collect the lubricant fed up through 'thebearing, the said shaft being provided with passageways leading downwardly through its mterlor from said collected lubricant to said cavity, whereby the lubricant will be returned by gravity.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pendant device rotatable about an axis eccentric with its own axis and comprising two coaxial members, a bearing between said members, means comprising a passageway in one of said members providing a closed lubricating circuit for said bearing, the centrifugal force due to the rotation of said members about the first mentioned axis assisting to cause the circulation of the lubricant, and means for excluding dust from said bearing.

10. The combination with a shaft rotatable about an axis eccentric with its own axis, of a bearing therefor, and means comprising a passageway through said shaft which forms art of a closed lubricating circuit for said earing, the bearing and lubricant being subjected to centrifugal force which propels the lubricant and causes it to circulate through said passageway and be tween the bearing surfaces.

11. The combination with a shaft rotatable about an axis eccentric with its own axis, of a bearing therefor, and means communica-ting with the ace between the bearing surfaces for providing a closed circuit, said means comprising a passageway inclined to the axis of said shaft and located in said shaft, the lubricant being subjected to centrifugal force whereby the lubricant is caused to circulate through said passageway and between the bearin surfaces.

In testimony whereof I a x my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' MORRIS BENJAMIN. Witnesses H. R. EIcHnmzG, L. J. REGENSTEIN.

:tlon In Letters Patent No. 1,142,746

It is hereby certified that the State of incorporation in Letters Patent No. 1, 142,746,

granted June 8, 1915, upon the application of Morris Benjamin, of Atlanta, Georgia, for an improvement in Lubricating Systems for Pulverizers, was erroneously written and printed ,NewYork, Whereas said State should have been written and printed New Jersey; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Ofiiee.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of July, A. D., 1915.

[SEAL] R. F. WQI AD 

